The Dawn of the New World

It was disfigured, marred by bruises and scars all over but that was definitely Salome...or at least his face.

And upon hearing the name Salome did react by turning in Hao Xuan's direction but that was it. There was no emotion in those previously expressive eyes, only confusion.

But nowhere near as much as Hao Xuan's.

"How...is that possible? I saw him die! You mother...fucker, what did you do!?"

But the distress in his voice only egged him on.

"No, you saw him ALMOST die," Tian Zheng clarified. It looked like he had been waiting for just this moment for quite a while and was more than willing to explain his plan.

"After brother Xue Meng stopped my fun I noticed that this sorry excuse for a human was still alive. It was a miracle in and of itself, truly. To survive not only me but brother Xue Meng's blade, it was like the universe was telling me something," Tian Zheng paused to meet Hao Xuan's gaze with a toothy grin, revealing two sets of razor-sharp teeth.

"The universe was telling me that I couldn't let it end this way, not this early. It was telling me to teach you a lesson, and oh boy did I listen, hahaha!"

He extended one of his claws and stroked Salome's shoulder creating sparks against his iron-like skin.

"So I scraped together whatever was left of him off the floor and got to work. It wasn't easy mind you, he was hanging on by a thread but as long as he was alive there was hope."

Tian Zheng reached behind his back and pulled out a metal disk with an insignia of a sword on it. A light flickered atop its surface creating an image of a black cauldron.

"For 2 days I boiled his body in a broth made from the bones of the Everwhite Toad known for its ability to recover from even the most grievous wounds. He screamed and screamed while parts of his flesh melted off but no matter how much he wanted it, there was no end to his suffering."

The images changed to show what was happening inside the cauldron and Hao Xuan could not look away. A half-melted face attached to a skull and some pieces of flesh was floating on its surface howling non-stop.

Tian Zheng smiled from ear to ear upon having finally gotten a hold of Hao Xuan's undivided attention.

"It took another day for me to gather all the resources needed to put together a new body for him."

The images changed to a ten-meter-long wooden table covered to the brim with freshly cut body parts.

"I won't lie to you it was a bit of a struggle and I thought about giving up several times but...the thought of seeing that face, your face right now, that's what kept me going. I stitched him back up one organ at a time, casting curse after curse on his wretched state and using no less than thirty souls to finally bind him to this form."

"And when it was all done and dusted I was left with something truly special, something I had never seen before."

His claws scraped against Salome's expressionless face as he glanced at him lovingly, "He is half dead and half dying. No other magic works on him now. He does not need to eat, sleep or rest. He will not age or break unless I wish it so."

"I have cast a curse of undeath upon his soul. It will forever wander these plains, unable to ever move on or find peace for all of eternity. He has become an abomination against the natural cycle of life and death to the point that...it only makes him stronger."

"There is no limit to his strength. Every time he receives a mortal blow it makes him stronger. But worry not Hao Xuan, I have kept his mind and soul intact. Soon he will remember his past but will be able to do nothing as I order him to rip you limb from limb, HAHAHAHA!"

Hao Xuan was watching and listening to every single word that was coming out of Tian Zheng's mouth but in his mind, there was something else happening that he could not describe.

[NOOO! NOOOO! NOOOOO! WHAT HAS HE DONE?! WHAT HAS HE DONE TO MY BROTHER!] his own voice was screaming inside his head.

[HE PROMISED TO KEEP HIM SAFE, HE PROMISED ME HE WOULD LIVE A LIFE OF PEACE THIS TIME!]

[LIAR! HE LIED TO ME! HE USED ME!]

[THERE WILL BE NO FORGIVENESS! NOT FOR YOU OR THEM! I WILL KILL ALL OF YOU, EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOU!]

*Click*

*Creeeeak~*

The left most door within Hao Xuan's Mind Palace slowly creaked open and a figure stepped out. Hao Xuan's consciousness was forcefully pulled into the mind palace.

He stood across from the white haired figure for the first time and saw his own face staring back at him. But it was so twisted in rage and fury that it barely looked human.

Hao Xuan wanted to ask him who he was but his vision turned dark before he could.

*tip*tip*tip*

The next thing Hao Xuan felt were the cold raindrops hitting his face.

"Where...am I?"